Method and apparatus for sewing bags and other articles



June 8 1926. 1,588,341

- c. F. SPARKS y METHOD AND APRARATUS FOR SEWING BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES1 Filed June' lO. 1925 1o sheets-smal A *June "8 1926.` Y 1,588,341.

C. F. SPARKS A METHOD AN'D APPARATUS FORJ SEWING BAGS AND OTHERARTICLES Filed Juge' lO, 1925 1Q Sheets-Sheet?.

/if TOE/v5 Y June s 1926.' 1,588,341

c. FL SPARKS METHOD- AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING BAGs AND OTHER'ARTIGLES Filed June 1o, 1925.

l0 Sheets-Sheei 5 Hull" .smeg I Vrowsa 1 Y June 8 1926.

c. E. SPARKS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEWIN'; BAGS AND/OTHER ARTTCLES 4 Filed June 1o, 1925 1o sheets-Sheet 4' INVENTOE June 3,1926.Y 1,588,341

c. F. SPARKS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES File/@JimelO,l 1925 l0 Sheets-Sheet -5 IN VE/vO/Q /55 /25 /LL I 'June 8 1926.

y 1,588,341 C. F. SPARKS METHOD' AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 ,-f/vvVf/V-ro/Q d@ ESM,

June 8,1926. 1,5s8,341.

C. F; SPARKS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEWNG BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Juin@ vlo, 1925 lo sheets-sheet v .f/v VENTO@ June s ,1926.- Y 1,588,341

' C. F. SPARKS v METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR sEwTNQ BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES- Filed June 1o 1925 10 sheets-snee; 8

-/'To besew'ed June s 192s. 1,588,341

v c.F.sPARKs A D OTHER ARTICLES- METHOD AND APPARATUS Fon SEWING BAGS AA Fi1ed June 1o, 1925 1o sneetssheet 9 June 8 1926;

C. F. SPARKS METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR sEwm G BAGS AND OTHER ARTCLES INV Patented June 8, 1

UNITED STATES PATENT oFEicE.I

CHARLES F. SPARKS, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES.

Application ied June 10,1925'. serial No. 36,084.

This invention relates to the manufacture specilic features to me bags and with regard to'certain more ans for sewing lateral and longitudinal seams in material to form a bag.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of improved means for reducing the number of operations required in bag manufacture by making practicable a combination of automatic sewing machines with other relatively higher speed apparatus such as cutting and folding printing, machinery siich as is ordinarily used on bag fabric; said means being adapted to permit'said automatic sewing machines to forni a relatively short stitch when the above named combination of sewing, printing, elements is used; and

cutting and folding the provision of simplified and imp-rovedapparatus for accomplishing the above ends which shall be subjectecl to low speeds` which and slight Wear and shall subject the automatic sewing machines to low speeds and slight-wear although said apparatus is turning out sewed bags at a high rate of speed.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and airangementsof parts which are exemplified in the structure hereinafter of, which will be claims.

In the accompanying drawings, iii which shown one of various possible embodiiiients of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of t-he ina-4 chine taken from the left front and shows certain parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and shows a lateral sewing machine and drive therefor;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view taken from the left and shows a rotating side of the machine, sewing machine and cam' slot showing vari eral sewing machine ous positions of a lattherewith Fig. 6 shows a -sewed bagprevious to turFniiig it rough side in;

l ig. from the right side of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 2 showing the details of the rotatingsewing-machine drive in closed clutch position;

Fig. l0 is a right side lelevation of the driving mechanism for the machine; taken on the line 10-1O of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line 11- 11 of Fig. 2 showing the epicyclic gear train for driving a gaining gear;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section taken from the right side showing a feeding mechanism in mid-position;

Figpl3 4is a view similar` to Fig. 12 showing the feeding mechanism as it takes a piece of cloth;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the feeding mechanism as cloth is fed to aplaten;

Figs. 15 and 16 are `rear and side elevations o'f a feeder plate showing a bag blank thereon; l

Fig. 17 is'an enlarged detail of the grabhook frame taken from the right and rear thereof; l v

Fig. 18 is a vertical section taken on the line 18-.18 of Fig. 17; j

Fig. 19 is an ideal section taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 20 is an' enlarged sectional detail showing a rotating sewing machine sewing its overhanging cloth;

7 is a fragmentary perspective taken bag,

. must have its inside the platen receiving mechanism shown in Preliminary.

' Itis proposed to show in this specification,

a means for receiving apiece of material folded once upon itself; means for sewing a seam longitudinally of, and opposite the folded side of the piece, the direction of said sewing operation taking -place at right angles to the direction of motion of the piece of material; means for sewing a seam at right angles to said seam at one end of the foldedl piece, said last named sewing operation taking place parallel to the direction of motion of the material but at a lower rate of speed with respect to the piece than the piece has with respect `to an externai motionless reference frame; and means for ejecting the piece when the seaming operations have been completed.

General.

The material, as receivedby the machine to be described7 is cut into pieces twice the size of a bag and folded upon itself along a line 1 (Fig. 6). This operation is performed by a separate machine. The line 1 forms one longitudinal side edge of the bag and,'of course, requires no sewing. It is roposed to stitch in the longitudinal seam 3, which forms'the other side edge of the and also to stitch in the lateral lower edge seam 5. Theupper edge 7 of the folded material is left open and hence a turned bag is formed.

The machine herein contemplated turns out a bag such as is illustrated in Fig. 6. The bag is made with its inside out and properly reversed by a subsequent process. The material may have been printed before arriving at the present machine.

Frame-work.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 7, there is illustrated at F a framework for-carrying the various members of the maohine.- The framework F comprises corner uprights- 9 and lateral members 11 fastened thereto. Struts 13 properly zontal upper member 15.

Two vertical columns 17 and 19 serve as mounts for the main shaft of the machine. The column 17 is located at the left-hand side of the machine and the column 19 at the right-hand side thereof. Minor frame members serving mere positioning purposes for cams and the like will be described in proper order later.

front of brace the frame as well as a hori-A Main, shaft M.

The main shaft' M, Figs. 1', 2 and 7, is held tightly' and nonerotatably in bearings 21 and 23. The bearings'21 and 23 are fastened to the upright columns 17 and 19 respectively.

' Platen frame PF.

rotatably mounted on said main shaft M by I means of va bearing 32. The wheel 25 and spider 29 rotate together. lThey are fastened, one to the other, by means of four cross-members or rails 31 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 11 and 19). The rails are bolted to the the arms of spider 29 and to the bornel on the main shaft front of anchor plates on the spokes o f the wheel 25. They have functions which will be described later.

Rearwardly of the spider arms are bolted angle irons 33 (four in number) parallel to the Said rails. These ironsserve to cooperate with a sewing machine hea'd mounted on said rails as will be described. Y

The point to be made here is that the wheel 25, gear 27. thereon, the spider 29', cross rails 31 and angle irons 33 are rotatable as a unit. This unit is the platen frame PF.

Dri/ve for platen frame PF.

This' is best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7. Mounted above the machine is a motor or other prime mover PM. A. Speed reducing chain drive 35 connects the motor PM with a clutch 37 on a line lshaft 39. The shaft 39 is borne on the top of the frame F by means of bearings 41. On the right-side upright 19 is bolted a bearing block 42. This bearingl block 42 rotatably mounts a jack shaft 43. The 'jack shaft 43 4is connected with the line shaft 39 by means of a chain drive 44. which steps down speed from the shaft 39 to the shaft 43.

Referring now to Figs. 210 and 1,1 it may be seen that the jack shaft 43 is provided with .a pinion 45 which is adapted to mesh with -the spur gear 27 fastened to the platen frame. Hence by causing the motor PM to function, the platen frame may be rotated. The frame rotates clockwise when vilewed from the right-hand side of the mac ine.

Plctens P.

In Fi s. 1,

' mounted` the cam the leg 53 for purposesv LM travel on the rails There are-four platens P arranged at ninety degree intervals. vThey each comprise an arc shaped piece of sheet metal, preferably. They are arced over the said rails 31 and braced thereto by side plates 47 and arms 49 (Fig. 7).

The platens have one edge, the edge which cooperates with the longitudinallyl open side of the bag material, bent over to form a lip 51.l This lip is flatly formed with regard to the substantially radialA leg 53 of said angle iron 33. (Figs. narrow slot 55 is left between the lip and of seaming by means of laterally traveling sewing 'machines LM (Figs. 1, 3 and 7). The'sewing machines over which the platens are arced. Their heels 59l travel in under the leg 53 and the lip 51, (Fig. 3) and their ,y necks arch over the angle iron 33 to per-` mit the 4needles thereof to cooperate with the heel mechanism at the slot 55 as the sewing machines travel laterally on the platen frame. Means for holding the bag material on the platen frame and across the slot 53 will be described.'

Urosa drie@ for lateral sewing machines.

It is intended that each lateral sewing Inachine LM, shall travel they complete length of a platen and return during one revolution of the platen frame. Of course the platens rotate with the frame. During their travel said machine shall complete the longitudinal seam of a bag.' The seam of course will-be made at the slot 53 over which t-he unseamed edges of the folded material will extend. The bag isto vbe removed from the platen at the rear of the machine when the lateral sewing machine is at the right of the platen frame, having finished its sewing operation.`

Y The sewing machine is to return after the bag has been-removed and have its sewing head inoperable upon the return passage. This arrangement of operations holds for each of the four'platen's, and each of the four lateral sewing machines cooperating therewith, respectively. The parts embodyingthe above contemplated action vare as follows:

A barrel cam BC is non-rotatably fastened to the main shaft M. `Ita-comprises a series of Hat faced wheels upon which are' track T in a more or less The developed view of this Fig. 5. 'Ihe zero degree is placed at the left forhelical fashion. track is shown in point on the track ward side of the course endless when wrapped on its barrel. The degrees marked on the track T in Fig. 5 represents degrees of rotation of the platen frame starting horizontally at the front of the machine. he relative positions of sew'- ino` machine heads are shown therewith.

ig 3^-shows the mounting of a lateral lframe of which the 1, 2, 3v and 21). A l

barrel.' lThe track is of f cross track v-or rail 3l. y The construction is such that the sewing machine cannot fall away from the cross rail 31in any position of said rail during rotation of the platen. I rail is a member. The rollers are rotatably fastened to a flat plate 63. v

On the plate'63ismounted one of 'the ateral sewing machines LM and drive therefor. The driving g -.ars are' located between ltwo plates mounted vertically o-n said' plate 63 (Fig. 3). They drive the sewing machine shaft 67 Awhich operates the sewing ,machine parts my means of an eccentric 69.

he sewing machine head per se is conventionally operable.

On the outside rear plate'65l is rotatably l mounted a follower roller 71 adapted to-t and follow in theujcam track or groove T.

Hence, upon, rotating .the platen frame as described, 'the 'late al isewing machines -are caused, by means'of thebarrel cam 'and followers, tonioveV laterally along their rails.

The velocities, accelerati'n andtiming of the lateral sewing machines may `obviously be controlled by proper pitching vof the cam .track T lon its cylindenLHence correct design, and accurate control, of the motions of the four machines may be had with the use of few parts.- Each machine performsits proper functions in order, as Vits follower comes to given points on the barrelv cam. This construction results in the sewingnnits being' forced to work in perfect conjunction with one another. 1-

The gearing for making the lateral sewing lmachine needles reciprocate shown in Figs. 2 and 3. mounted between the plates parts are broken away to show -thisgearing For each of the four platen's, a rack 73 is mounted laterally allel to the said rails 31. This rack 73 passes under the tail 75 of thelateral sewing machine LM. This rack 73 'is stationary with respect to the platen frame and revolves with it.

Mounted between'one of the brace plates 65 and an auxiliary brace plate 77 is 'a rotatable shaft 79- carrying fast thereto a ion 81 which meshes a shaft 79 also 1carries-fast thereto a larger gear 83 which meshes with a pinion'85 made ast on a secondary rotatable shaft 87 mounted between the said brace plates 65. Another larger gear 89 is loosely held on said shaft 87 between a collar 91 and a ratchet l93. The collars and ratchet are made fast to the shaft 87. The ratchet is adapted to drive the large gear 89 by means of a pawl Spring pressed toward its drivaid gearingv is roperly is` best 65. In Fig. 2

on'the platen frame, parconventional sewing ing lratchet. pinned to the side of gear-89.

The gear 89 ydrives a pinion 97 which is fast on the said sewing machine shaft 67. The shaft 97 is borne between one ofthe plates 65 and the sewing machine, and carries the said eccentric -69 for driving the machine head parts. The operation is almost obvious'. As the lateral sewing machine is driven along its rail to the right by the said barrel cam B and the cooperating follower 71, the pinion 81 meshing with the stationary rack 7 3 is rotated counterfclockwise'. Hence the gear 83 `rotates counter-clockwise. The gear 83 85 to rotate clockwise and hence the ratchet 93 rotates clockwise and erate the needle mechanism ofthe sewing machine head. The result is, that as the lateral sewing machine is driven to the right the left end of its track,

no motion is of the machine, its ownmotion causes its sewing elements to become operable to sew a piece of material stretched across the slot 55. The advantage of this fact is that the rateof reciprocation ofthe needle, (hence the rate of stitching), is always proportional to the displacement ofthe machine and no matterhow thev velocity of the sewing machine is varied due to machine design requirements, .a constant length of stitch is obtained.

It. is toi be understood that in ,designing this machine the pitch of the cam track T is to be arranged, preferably, to give low accelerations'to the lateral sewing machines at the beginning and end of their sewing operations and maximum velocity therebetween. This reduces accelerating strains.

When the track T of the vbarrel cam brings the lateral sewing machine back to the drive to the sewing machine reverses vits action up to the ratchet and pawl mechanism from whence obviously transmitted to the sewing machine head mechanism, and the needle is inoperable on the return of the sewing machine over its rail. It is to be noted'that there are used four lateral sewing machines, one for Aeach platen.

Some of the advantages of the described drive for the lateral sewing machines haveA been enumerated. Others are that there are no engaging and disengaging racks or gears employed for reversing the travel of the sewing machines. Thus great multi licity of parts is avoided and the timing of t iev device is made positive. Each lateral sewing machine functions exactly as the others.

Power required to drive the machine isg a minimum and is all taken from a cut to (see motor PM).

single source The pawl 95 is permanently I bottom slightly (Fig. 20)

89 clockwise by meansv motion 0f the platen frame by means of l The rotating sewing machines RM.

These machines are illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 8 and 9. They'are. adapted to sew the end seam of the bag. The folded bag blanks are fed on their respective platens with the overhanging the left edge This overhanging edge 60 in which the rotating sew their seams.

of the platen.

is the part sewing machines RM is about one-half inch in the overhang 60 is exaggerated.

Y Spider S.

The machines RM are mounted at the ends of the radial legs 99 of a three legged spider S. The top edges of theirsewing plates are made .iush faces, that is they -areat the same radius (Figs. 8 and 20). The legs 9 9 are arranged at-120 intervals and are bolted to a common central hub plate 101.\ The bolts which hold the legs 99 to the hub plate 101 also hold a gaining gear 103 to lsaid hub and consequently to said spider. The. spider and gear rotate as a unit on the main shaft. M, the hub of the gear 103 acting as a bearing. The rotation of the .spider S, as will be explained, is made to take place in the same direction as that of the platen lframe but `at a faster rate. Therefore their-frames must be independentof one another. However, the spider S depends for its mptpn upon the Dri/ve foia 'rotating spider S. Fastened non-rotatably to the main shaft kM (Figs. 2, 10 and 11) is a relatively large `fixed sun gear 107.

Rotatably mounted on the wheel 25. of the rotating platen frame 'PF are two meshing pinions 109 and 111. The pinion 109 -is a planet gear meshing with the sun ear 107 and the gear 111 receives its motion 'rom the said planet gear 109. The gear 109 is caused to rotate as it travels around the stationary gear 107, that is, when the platen to. which said gear 109 is fastened, revolves. Relative rotative motionis transmitted to -gear 111 the rotation of the platen frame PF. The gear 109 acts as a transmitter and an idler at once. y The gear A111 is made fast to a cross shaft 113 running longitudinally of the platen frame and rotatably borne thereon in bearings 115 and 117, to the left and right of said frame respectively. The cross shaft 113 passes through the left-hand bearing width. In Fig. 2O Y with the platen sur- 115 and overhangs the left end of the platen which the three rotating the spider S on y RM are mounted,

sewing machines 'epicyclic train to register at said point `gaining distance over Y point on, and hence, may perform their sew- The gear ratios of the gears 107, 109,111, 119 and 103 are arranged so that one-oper ative turn of the platen frame PF, causes said gears by means of their epicyclic action to turn the gaining gear and spider therewith one and one-third turns in the same direction. Hence a ninety degree movement of the platen frame produces a 120 degree movement of the spider S and the sewing machines thereon.

vIt is evident from the above description that if the rotating sewing machines have a higher peripheral vvelocity than the platens, that they can be made to perform a sewing operation on the said overhanging edge of material in so far as the machines have a relative velocity thereto. This relative velocity is evidently less than velocity of the bag material on the platens, -or any relative rotation of the spider Sein the direction of the rotation of the platen frame PF when said rate of rotation of the spider is less than twice that of the platen frame.

It should be noted that by causing the rotate the spider S at a slower -rate than that of the platen frame, the same result as to relative speeds could be attained.

Now it'is evident that if one of the ro tative sewing machines is registered with a platen edge, so that the needle of the machine will start to sew thev end seam of a bag as the platen revolves, then as the platen revolves through ninety degrees, the sewing machine will revolve through 120 degrees. Hence, having four platens equally spaced, on the platen frame, and three rotating sewing machines on the spider S, there will always be a rotating sewing machine registering with a platen at the starting point for a following bag. The last statement is evident when it is considered that a given point, such as say about a forward level point Xv (see Fig. 1) in a circle of revolus4 tion, there may be present the rear edge of a platen at every ninety degree interval. The rotating sewing machines are timed to practically register with this rear edge. There are only three of these machines, but since they revolve at one and one third the platen speed, there will be four of them for every platen revorotating machines are the platens from this lution. Of course the ing operations if made operative to sew.

he operatives for the rotating machines wil be described.

Before proceeding the following facts should be noted.

The rotating sewing machines RM start sewing at the rear end of the platens at about a forward level point X in a circle of revolution, one after the other. The

the actual peripherall l Va 180 d platen with its bag thereon lies ahead of its.

respective revolving sewing machine.

N ow, if the platen frame revolves (180- 4.5) degrees, or 135 degrees, a platen, having the circle (see Fig. 7). In the meantime the corresponding rotatingV machine has turned one and one third times 135 degrees which equals 180 degrees, or it 'has reached said rea-r level oint also. It has overtaken the forty-five egree distance occupied by the platen and hence has finished its sewseam .of the bag.

rear edges thereof by theA numeral 123.

Drives fofj rotating sewing machine-s. The rotating machines RM must be made to perform a sewing function and this only for the described one-halfcircle of advance past a platen, namely for their upper 180 degrees of travel from front to rear. (See Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9.) I

The machines are made to function by fastening to the left end of the main shaft a stationary sun gear 125. This gear 125 has permanently formed therewith an operating cam 127 Subt-ending practically egree arc over the upper half of said gear. The cam is beveled on the right sides of its ends. The exact placement of this cam is slightly modified by other portions of the structure to be' described but the figures given are substantially correct.

Extending rearwardly from each of thel outer ends of the said three legs 99 of the spider S isa drive-gear box 129 (Figs. 1, 8 and .f'

Drive gears for each of tne rotating 'machines RM are in said boxes 129. These gears for each box comprise two gears 131 and 133 fixed to a cross shaft 135 rotatably mounted longitudinally within the said box. gear 131 meshes with said sun is a planet gear therefor. larger gear 133 meshes with a pinion 137. he pinion 137 is keyed toa hollow drive shaft 139 also rotatably mounted ,within gear 125 and tion of the shaft 139 A. spindle 145 passes through the hollow on the follower 159.

v now closed, and

lloosely throughv a portion of the shaft 139 and the bores of the flanges. A flange 147 is permanently formed on the right ,end of said spindle. Between the flanges 147 and 143 is placed a conventional thrust bearing. The flange 143 is provided with drive pins 149 which slidably fit into holes in a flange151 of the eccentric or drive shaft of the revolving machinesRM.

The left end of the spindle 145 passes p flat clutch yoke 153 which may swing freely with thespindle 145 passing therethrough. The yoke 153 swings on a pivot rod 155 rotatably mounted in a bearing 157. The bearing is fastened to the gear box. The lower end ofthe rod 155 is offset and carriesrotatably thereon lower roller 159. The yoke 153 and the roller 159 may oscillate with the rod 155 as center.

The spindle 145y has formed on its eX- treme' left end a head 161. A spring 163, formed loosely around the spindle 145, reacts between said head 161 and said yoke 153 when the yoke is in its Fig. 9 position.

The operation of the drive is as follows:

As the spider S revolves clockwise (Fig. 8) each gear lboli 129 passes around the periphery of the sun gear 125. f Hence the ear 131 meshing with gear 125 is driven. The hollow shaft 139 is driven by the gear train, 131, shaft- 135, gears 133 and 137.

When a box is in any of its lower semicircular positions with respect to the gear 125, the cam 127 is of course not operable The spring 163 expands to its limit and there is no interaction between the collar or abutment 161 and the yoke 153. The cam follower 159 may go to a position to the left of that shown for it in Fig. 9. Hence the spindle 145 may slip to the right and obviously permit av loose cooperation between the plates or flanges 141 and 143. Hence the hollow shaft, although rotating, cannot revolve the drive pins 149. l The sewing machines are not operating on the lower half of their revolution.

When the box 129 passes to the upper half of the circle of revolution the follower 159 is adapted to cooperate with the cam 127 (Figs. 8 and 9). Hence the follower is driven to the right and the yoke to the left. (The yoke and 'follower are on substantially opposite sides of the pin 155). This results 1n the spring being driven to the left. It drives the abutment 161 to the left, kwhencev the spindle 145 is also driven to the left and the plates 141 and 143 are made to cooperate closely at their leather faces. These plates then act as a clutch,

the clutch pins 149 are revolved to drive the flange 151 of the sewing machine drive shaft.

The spring 163 compresses when thrown Vwear on a fol-- to the left and thereby is made reactive. The c'ompressibility of the spring theA parts of the drive to be made with large tolerances as the spring acts as a compensating element. ,It also compensates for the disc faces.

When the cam 127 is fastened to the top of gear 125 it is offset forwardly a slight amount to compensate for the forward reach of the follower offset.

AFrom the above description it is seen that the revolving sewing machines RM are made operative onl on the upper half of their swing, that 1s, while they are forwardly passing a platen. Hence they may sewa seam in the described overhanging edge of cloth on saidfplatens. l

Since the relative speeds as the machines pass their respective platens are relatively small (about fifty or sixty feet per minute while the peripheral speed of the material with the platens is about one hundred feet .per minute or more) the gearing for the machines may be designed. to give them a low needle reciprocating rate.- The advantages of this are great. It implies that material may be fed through this machine at a higher rate of speed than the heads of these sewing machines could handle ordinarily, were the relative rate with respect to said heads, the rate fed through the machine. The result is a machine of higher seaming capacity, for any given design of sewing machine ead. f

The crux of the improvements herein recited, is the fact that work traveling into and out of this machine at a high rate of speed, has a long enough travel through permits the machine to permit of relatively leisurely Blank feeding mechanism.

As described, cloth or other material is folded once before feeding it to this machine. The folded piece is called a bag blank.`

Figs. 1, and 12 to 16, short7 how the blank is transferred to a platen. p

Forwardly 'of the machine and formed on proper braces is a feed plate 165. This plate has approximately the area of a folded bag blank 'and is formed in a cular fashion (see Fig.v 16). At intervals on the Ylower edge 166A of the plate are fornd` short upturned lips 167. The lips 167 are not raised to a vertical position. Theironly function is to lightly hold a bag blank inposition on the feed plate 165.

quarter cir- Y Said platen frame gear 27. The speed ratio of gear 27 and pinion 169 is 1 to 4.

Arranged on bearings at the front of the machine is arock shaft 171 which has a crank'173 fastened to the right end thereof. A connecting rod 175 reaches from a crank pin on said pinion 169 to said crank v173. For every revolution of the platen gear 27 the rock through a complete cycle to be described.

F astened to the rock shaft 171 is a .frame 177 comprising two end 4pieces 179, a spacci' piece 181 and a pivot rod 188 between said parallel thereto is held in bearings a finger end pieces.

Fastenedto said pivot rod-183 is a grabhook frame 185 (Figs. 17 and 18).- The frame is provided withpermanent spring fingers 187 fastened to thereof.

the forward side On the rear side-of the frame and shaft 189. This shaft 189 has permanently associated therewith a series of spring lingers 191 adapted normally to cooperate with the saidpermanent fingers 187. A coil spring 193 fastened to and around the finger shaft, and reacting on the frame 185, causes'the normal engagement between the sets of fingers 191 and 187.v Thekfinger shaft overhangs the frame 185 at the right end thereof and is there provided with a finger cam 195. A trip piece 197 is adapted to cooperate with the 'nger cam 195 at a predetermined point. inthe forward travel of the finger cam, to rotate the finger shaft and separate the sets of fingers 187 and 191. This action is accomplished against the reaction of the spring 193 which returns the fingers to a cooperating position when the linger cam 195 has passed over its trip 197. The trip 197 is fastened to the machine frame F at a convenient point. AReturning to the pivot rod 183, it may be noted (Fig. l) that -it overh'angs the right end of the frame -177.- F astened to said rod 183 at the overhang isa slide-rod 199. The grab-hook frame is directly operable with the pivot r0d'183 from this slide rod 199.

The whole frame 177 is directly operable with its shaft 171 from the crank 173.

The operative for the slide r0d'199 is also borne on said shaft 171 and takes its motion from the connecting rodA 175, as follows: (Figs. 1 and 12 to 14).

shaft is then rocked four times An independent oscillatory sleeve 201 is arranged on the shaft 171. This sleeve 171 is provided with a hook shaped arm 203 which rests on the upper surface of the connecting rod 175. Another arm 205 is provided on saidsleeve 201 and is angularly placed to the front of matic link 204.

Likewise the crank 173 and frame 177 form another kinematic link 178.

The former link 204 is operable by means of the rising and falling motion of the connecting rod, while the latter link 178 is operable. by the moreor' less reciprocating motion of said rod;

The arm 205 is provided jat its outer end with a pinned slider-block' 207 which encases the slide rod 199.

The frame 185 and its slide rod 199 lform 4a third kinematic link 200.

A coil spring 209 reacting from some convenient p oint on the frame pulls the arm 203 down 0n to thev connecting rod atiall times.

The

melchanism 1s best shown 1n Figs.. 1, and 1 to 6.

A bag blank is put on the feed plate 165 `(see Figs. 15 and 16)\ In Fig. 12 a platen P has just passedand received a blank. lIt is not shown for purposes of clarity. The pinion 169, since the platen frame gear`27 rotates counter-clockwise (viewed from the left of the machine) rotates clockwise.

peration of theA blank;

said arm 2 03. In effect, the arms 203 and 205 form one kine-l v The kinematic link 17 8, comprising crank 173 and frame 17 is rotating clockwise. This action carries the grab-hookframe 185 in a general forward or right-hand direction. From the Fig. 12 position the connecting rod 175 is kinematic link`20i comprising arms 203 and 205 is descending henceforth forone half revolution. The result is that the slider block 207 is drawn down as the link 178 rotates clockwise.

Therefore the cooperating fingers 187 and 191 (forminvf grab-hooks) are vrapidly moved forwardly' of the machine to a position at the lower edge 166 of the feed plate 165I (see Fig. 13). l

In reaching that position the finger cam 195 .has passed over the trip 197, just prior to thetime that the grab-hooks reach the cloth which overhangs notches 168 between said lips 167. The hooks are aligned with l said notches.-

The cam causes. the' descending so that the to its left hand position. -with the 'bag blank open edge of the bag blank. Since'the trip isformed of spring material, retuin over its hooked end by the finger cam merely brushes the trip aside with no action on the grab-hooks.

. The next crucial position for the feeding linkage is shown in Fig. 1st. Here the pinion 169 has rotated somewhat less than 180 degrees from its Fig. 13 position.

itsl fork, and due to relative motion of the y the platen. A

clockwise to its Fig. 14 vextend the hooks with'their bag blank far link 178 with respect to `the now stationary link 204 has caused the link 200 to` turn position, and hence Ato the left, out over a now rising platen.

The action of the hooks is to the left, while rising with the platen. The action of the hooks and the platen is timed equally for a short distance in upward travel after which `the rate of rise of the hooks becomes faster than that of the steadily moving laten.

While the hooks and .the hooks deposit the laten are together lank edge on the said radial leg of the angle iron 33 whichv cooperates with the turned-in`portion 51 of mechanism on the angle iron, to be described, grips the cloth and it drapes down over the platen edge.

Then the hooks accelerate upwardly away from the platen by means ofthe rotating action of link 200as described and finally rotate out of the way of said platen as it passes upwardly.

The link 200 pauses as the crank pin of thepinion 169 goes through the first-.part of its last quarter turn.

During the last quarter turn of the pinion,'the feeding linkage returns to the Fig. 12 position, the hooks passing to the right and away from the platen over toward another waiting bag blank on the feed plate;

l The withdrawal of the hooks from the,

blanket the platen is accomplished merely by the accelerating action which, when the bag is held -on the iron 33, slips the curved spring fingers of the hooks from the edge of thejblank. The hooks draw upwardly away from the platen.

`Platen' receiving means.

This mechanism is shown in Figs. l, 21, 23 and 26. lt comprises a rod 208 borne in a beaging on one side of said angle iron 'but not laterally slidable.

carries fingers 212 33. The rod is placed longitudinally of said iron and may oscillate in the said bearing. It has fastened thereto three spring fingers 211 at the right end thereof which are adapted to cooperate with the leg 53 of said angle iro'n under action of a spring to be described. The spring fingers 211 are laterally placed in such positions so as not to interfere with the hooks of the feed ing mechanism described. i

Formed over 'the left end of the rod 208 is a sleeve 210, rotatably mounted thereon This sleeve 210 similar to said fingers 211. The sleeve is normally adapted to press its Iinger's2l2 to the iron; 33 as the fingers 211 are pressed. This is done by means' of the reaction of a spring 213 re- At the right'end of the sleeve is cut a i crown slot 214..- A pin 216 is screwed into the rod 208 at the upper edge of `this slot. There is ample play between the pin and the lower edge of the slot. The function of. this construction will be explained later.

-The rod 208 overhangs the right end of lthe liron and is there providedl with a lever 215 (Fig. 21,). This lever normally has a substantially radial position when the fingers 211 cooperate with the iron 33. It has a roller follower 217 rotatably fastenedcon its inner end, and a rod 219 pinned to its outer end. The rod 219 passes through a guide 221 fastened to the wheel 25 of the laten frame. A spring 223 on the rod reacts between the lever 215 and said guide 221 to put the fingers 211 to a clamped position.

A cam 225 fastened to a convenient point on the machine frame, is adapted to cooperate with the follower 217 at a time when it is desiredfto raise the lingers from the iron 33 for 'placement of a bag blank on said iron by the described feeding hooks; As the bag blank iron the follower 217 rides over lthe cam 225, turns its lever 215, whereupon the rod 209, turns clockwise (Fig. 21) and lifts the fingers 211. The fingers 212 on"v the sleeve 210 are also lifted as the sleeve is reversed lclockwise by the action-of the pin 216 on the upper edge `of slot 214 (See Fig. 23). This action takes place against the reactions of springs 213, 223 and as soon as the follower 217' has cam 225 the fingers return to their position on the iron A33 but the blank is now held between them and said iron. The blank has been deposited, as described, by the feeding mechanism. (See Figs. 1, and 12 to 16).

To holdthe rear end of a bag on the platen as the bag is fed thereto a similar is placed on `the passedl over the device is used. (Figs. 1 and 7). Here a spring return device 227 having a roller .229 operable on a cam 231 (Fig. 1) operates by means of a shaft under the rear end of the platen, two T-clamps 233 which reach through slots on the platen.

As the bag blank is fed to the platen, andl platen.

At this stage a lateral and arevolving sewing machine each start operating to sew thelr respective seams. The revolving machine starts at the left-rear of the platen and the` lateral machine at the left front thereof.

Platen sewing mactz'neswitch (Figs. 2, 7 'i and 22). l

It is evident that the lip 51, while permitting passageof a lateral sewing machine as described would not permit passage of a gaining revolving machine, were its left end infiexible. To provide for this the lip 51 is cutaway for a distance at its left end. It

is cut back enough to `permit passage of the sewing plate of a revolving machine. At c the cut portion of the lip 51 is placed a hinged switch plate 235.

This plate normally rests on thesewing plate of a lateral sewing machine. A spring clip 237 holds it normally parallel to said lip 51. The switch isprovided withjup wardly extending pins 239 for holding the pla-te to the bag blank. These pins do not interfere with the operation 'of the lateral sewing machine. It is evident that a lateral machine may sew past the switch plate as well as it could the original lip taken from the cut-out section. A

However when a revolving sewing machine arrives at the switch, its sewing plate pushes the switch plate 235 into line with the lip 51. This is a positive action and thereupon the fingers 212 on the sleeve y210 are forced upwardly from the iron 33 against the reaction of spring 213. The fingers 211 stay down on the iron 33 because of the lost m0- tion between the sleeve 210 and the pin 216 of the rod 209 fastened.

Hence while the cloth is held down at the right side of the platen for the'v operation of a lateral sewing machine thereon, it is raised at the left end with the switch plate for operation of a revolving machine thereon. Of course before the arrival of the revolving machine at the switch, the lateral machine has traversed the switch in sewing its longitudinal Sea/In, 'l

- sewing eration. The conventional ing operable the thread at a joint 247 in a vertical slot to which the fingers 211 are' `rearwardly of the platen switch takes its normal position parallel to the lip 51, as by this time, plate of the lateral machine is not present, the platen is headed down on the rear of the machine andV the switch is inverted, whereby gravity holds it horizontally against the angle in the spring clip 237. The fingers 212.return to their normal position and hold the material down on the iron 33.

It may be noted in wardlybent leaf spring 241 on the sewing plate of the revolving sewing machines guides'the overhanging cloth on to the said sewing plate as the sewing machine advances along the platen edge.

Thread cutters.

All of the conventional heads in this machine are automatic thread ing'the thread at sewing machine cutting devices for seven the end of a seaming opmethod for mak- 'cutter is to have aylug on the sewing machine head operable .by means of a linkage to move the thread cutter to cutting position. The lug cooperates with another stationary lug at theend of a seaming passage and thereby brings thecutting mechanism into play. Details of one of the thread -cutters are shown in the broken portionof Fig. 3. Two shear knives 243 having a pin joint 245 are pinned to the rear of, the needle head. This pin joint 247 is on one blade. The other has a corresponding pin joint 249 joining it to a follower piece 251 which' paes sewing plate. The follower 251 is spring held in its outward position. When the sewing machine reaches the end of its seaming passage the vfol-lower 251 strikes a wedge cam 253 fastened to the platen frame which causes the follower sewing plate against the reaction of its spring, thereby closing and raising the shear blades to cut the thread..

he revolving sewing machines are equipped with like cutters and cams.

Take-0,7? mechanism. l

This is best shown in Figs. 2, 4, 7, 24 and 25. Between two vertical upriglits at the rear of the machine Aand in bearings thereon. is horizontally placed a rotatable shaft' 255. It is rotated counter-clockwise (from the right) as shown in Fig. 7, by means of a chain drive 257 from the'shaft of the pinion 269. The drive gives a one to one ratio so that the shaft 255 rotates four times forwardly for every revolution frame, since the pinion rotates four times for every revolution of the pla-te frame as described,

The Shaft 255 is Previded rigidly with although the equipped v with out ofthe end of the Fig. 1 that a downtobe pushedinto the each adapted to press against the outer sur-y face of a pulley 259. A coilspring 262 around the shaft 261, reacting between said shaft and the left hand' pulley serves to normally hold the 4clampimg plates .263 held rightly against the pulley surfaces.

every revolution.

It may be noted in Fig. 2 that one 0f the plates is on a right-hand overhang of the shaft 261. On the left-hand overhang of said shaft is formed tightly a lever arm 265 extending substantially on their pulley surfaces (Figs. 211 and 25.)r

`A cam 267 to the left of the left-hand pulley 259 is adapted roller 269 on the end of the said lever` 265.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4, 24 and 25 it is evident that as the chain 'drive 257 rotates the that the roller 269 is caused to cooperate'with the cam 267 every shaft 255 forwardly,

revolution. This causes a rotation of the shaft 261 in a direction, relative to the pulleys 259, which is clockwise whenviewed as in Figs. 4, and 25; Hence the plates 263 are drawn away from their pulley surfaces once The length of the cam that the plates 263 are from the pulleys 259,

267 is made such made to withdraw when they are von a rear l open downwardly. Also said plates are .pulley surfaces only of their revolution and are drawn awayy by said Atween said open plates again caused to approach and seat on their respective pulleys when they are von their front horizontal level and open upwardly.

Shortly, the plates 263 clamp to their during the lower half from their pulley surfaces during the upper half of their revolution.

Hence if a bag blank is freed by its fingers 211 and 212 andis permitted to drape from a platen at the rear of the machine hanging rearward T-clamps 232 (clamps 232 are now higher than the said fingers), then as the platen rotates downwardly at the rear, the sewed bag edge will drop in be- 263 and the pulleys 259. This happens if lthe parts are properly synchronized. (See Figs. 2 and 25).

The complete cyclic action of the take-off mechanism is as follows:

As a platen revolves downwardly at the rear of the machine its -follower wheel 217 strikes a cam 271 mounted on the frame (Figs. 7 and 21). This opens the fingers 211 and 212, as described for cam 225. The now sewed front edge of the bag is freed and hangs downwardly,

inwardly with lespect to the periphery of one of the pulleys 259, when the clamping plates 263 are seated to cooperate with al horizontal level and In the meantime the pulleys.l 259 have rotated to such a position that the now open scending'hanging edge 'of the bag.

As the pulleys 259 and platen rotate further the pulleys and clamps draw the bag out to the rear, taking tfrom the platen (Fia 25).. f Soon the follower 229 ofthe platen reaches a cam 273 on the frame and the T-liead clamps 232 free the cloth 4or bag (Fig. y7). At this stage', the clamps 263 of the pulleys 259 have reached their rearward position. Here they open downwardlyyas' described. Hence the bag is 263 and-clamps 232, almost simultaneously. The sets of clamps 263 and 232 are almost at the same level when the bag is dropped, the former rising and the latter descending,'so that the bag is dropped flatly (not on end) and a neat pile of the at the rear of the machine. An operator ymay remove the pile of bags at infrequent intervals (Fig. 2).

Complete operation.

The operation of the complete machine is as follows:

First, bag blanks are formed by cutting'v pieces of bag material to-unifor'mv lengths, and by folding said material longitudinally. The material may be printed on the inside. Cutting, folding and printing is done on a separate machine.

From the said machines the bag blanks are fed on to the feed plate 165 of the present machine. (Figs. 15 and 16). The open edge of the blank is at the lower edge of the feed plate.

From the feed plate 165 the fingers 187 Vand 191, operable by means of the connecting rod 175 and associated parts, take the open edge of the blank and place said edge on the radial leg 53 of the angle iron 33. This action takes place while the platens D are moving upwardly on the forward side of the platen frame PF which is revolving rearwardly.

Fingers 211 and 212. clamp said edge of the blank as described as the fingers l18,7 and 191 pull away from it upwardly to return for another bag blank, now on the feed plate 165. As' the platen in question rises the rear -folded edge of the blank approaches the rear edgeof the platen and is clamped thereto by the T-clamps 233. The blank is now clamped to a platen and moving with it. It has an overhanging edge of about one-half inch extending over the left edge of the platen. See Fig. 20.

The platen switch 235 is resting fiatly on its lateral sewing machine plate under the blank. See Fig. 22.

At this juncture, considering only the one dropped from the clamps` finished bags is formed clamp plates 263 are ready to receive the de- 

